Blind construction



March 17, 1953 H. NELSON BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 27, 1947 2 sHEETs-SHEET 1 Zsrwentot fig.

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attornegs March 17, 1953 H. NELSON BLIND CONSTRUCTION 2 SI-IEETSSHEET 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1947 jlrwervltol: jz/arzy/lff/sqn @WI XM1-jr 1 Gttornegs the' shade. cord lock.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 BLIND CONSTRUCTION Harry Nelson, YNew "York, N. Y., assignor to Lorentzen Hardware j-Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 27, 1947, Serial No.-731,392

5 Claims. 1 vThis invention is particularly applicable to shades of the type often referred to as porch shades, and it will be disclosed. and discussed in that connection. However, certain aspects of the invention are applicable to other types of blinds, 1

within which terni I include porch shades, roll screens and lVenetian blinds.

The usual porch shade is essentially a mat of oneV sort or another hung in a Vertical plane and arranged to be rolled upby lift cordsor ropes. The -rnat may talqevarious forms-a frequent form being a, woven mat'havingfspaced vertically-,disposedstrings or cords aswarp and relatively narF row Ahorizonta-lljw-disposed stripsof Wood or' bamboo '-as'woof.

1in Aan operative sense there is .ordinarily two 4lift cords, and these may consist of:.two branches offasingle piece of cord. The terminal end of one lift cordliszanchored at the top ofthe blind near a. Afirst end thereof.

From there `this cord extends down the rear face of the blind, under the bottoni of the blind, up thefront face of the blind, over a. pulley or other suitable cord guide,

vto a. point nearthesecond end of -the-blind,-over another pulley-orother vsuitable ,cordguide,..and

thence through a oord' loch. The. other lift cord has its terminal end anchored at-the top ofthe blind-.near ,the second-end thereof. v'Fron'ithere this cord extends downthe rear face `of the blind,

under the bottom of the blind, up the front tia-ce of the blind, over-a pulleyfor. other suitable-cord guide, .and thence through vthe cordlock. If the ltwo lift cords-consist of Vtwo branches of a single piece oi cord, they unite after vpassing .through vthe `cord lock.

The. present invention, in its preferrediorm 'hereinafter disclosed, is concerned with a pair oi fittings which act as cord guides and include cord puiieysand whichalso include means for hanging @ne oi these iittings also includesithe An'object oi Ythe invention is to provide an vadvantageous cord guide, or combined hanger vand cord guide, which is vadapted toibe quickly and rnily attac-hed to the top of the porchshadev `-or similar blind.

Another object of the invention is toprovide Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an improved ntting which includes a shade hanger, a cord anchor, and a cord guide.

A further object of the invention is to provide for blinds a cord lock which is substantially protected against false or unintended operation.

A still further object of the invention is-to provide for blinds an improved cord lock which prevents two branches of cord passing through the lool; from becoming twisted within the casing of the lock.

Additional objects of the invention are to accomplish the foregoing results with fittings adapted for manufacture as unitary sheet metal stampings or assemblies thereof.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies of construction will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. 'in the claims, aswell as in the description, parts are at times identified by specific broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. i is a. front elevation of a mounted porch shade having ttings in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention installed thereon, the central portion of the shade being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and showing the combined hanger and cordlock fitting, a portion of the shade support being omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a vertical lsection taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and showing the combined hanger and cord guide fitting, a portion of the shade support being omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. .4 is a front elevation of the combined hanger and cord guide shown in Fig. 3, prior to installation on the shade.

Fig. 5 is a right-side elevation of the fitting shown in Fig. 4

Fig, 6 is a bottom plan view of the fitting shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the combined hanger and cord lock shown in Fig. 2, prior to installation on the shade.

Fig. 8 is a right-side elevation of the tting shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a leftside elevation of the tting shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the tting shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Fig. 1l is a horizontal section of the fitting, taken generally on line l l-l l of Fig. 8

Fig 12 is a perspective view, on a large scale, of a modified spring washer which may be positioned under the head of the pulley shaft of the cord lock tting.

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective View, also on a large scale, showing an alternative means for engaging the head of the pulley shaft.

The shade, generally designated as l5 and shown in Fig, l, is comprised of a multiplicity or edgewise-positioned horizontal strips or slats I6 Which are collectively secured into a iiexible sheet by interwoven vertical cords Il extending at intervals from top to bottom of the shade. The upper portion of the shade i5 terminates in a head or top bar IS which has, mounted alongside it, the topmost slat i6 of the shade, a second slat 23 being frequently interposed between the top slat I6 of the shade and the head bar i9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The head bar i6 and the slats I6 are secured together at intervals along their length by fasteners, such as rivets i8.

The shade I5 is suspended from a support 26, such as the marginal roof beam of a porch, and is often positioned between porch pillars 2l, 2l, as shown in Fig. l. The shade l5 may be conveniently suspended from the support 26 by the use of fittings to be described which detachably engage headed fasteners, such as the screws 22, 22 secured in the support.

In the form of multiple slat shade shown in Fig. l, the slats are not tiltable, and the shade is raised to open position by rolling it upwardly from the bottom. Opening of the shade l 5 is accomplished by lift cords 24, 24 which cooperate with the shade in a well-known manner,

The two ttings for the shade above described are illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 11, inclusive, of the drawings. These ttings may be conveniently designated as a oord guide fitting 25 and a cord lock iitting 2l, the cord lock fitting also serving the function of a cord guide for changing the direction of pull of the lift cords 24, 24. The cord guide tting 26 and the cord lock fitting 2l also serve as hangers for mounting the shade l5, as will be described.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the cord guide fitting 26 is formed from a :dat sheet of metal, preferably plated or treated to resist corrosion by the use of stamping dies or otherwise. The cord guide fitting 26 includes a iiat plate 26 hav- Ving its lower portion horizontally folded upon itself in spaced relation to torni a housing 55. A single-groove pulley El is mounted for rotation within the housing Si? on a rivet 32 passing through the housing perpendicular to the plate 29. One side of the housing 36 is cut away to provide a hole 34 (Figs. 8 and 5) in order to permit lateral passage oi the lift cord 24 from the pulley 3l, as is shown in Fig. l.. The edge portions of the metal at either vertical side of the hole 34 and along the opposite lower edges of the housing 39 indicated at 35, 35 in Figs. 6 and 4,

are turned slightly outward to prevent fraying of the lift cord 24 as it runs past these edges.

The mid-portion of the plate 26, slightly above the housing 36, is provided with two small forwardly-extending anges 36, 35 lying in the same horizontal plane and preferably spaced as far apart as the width of plate 26 permits. The midportion of the plate 29 is also provided with a round hole 31, the hole 3l and the anges 36, 36 being provided for mounting the iitting 26 on the shade I5 in a manner to be described.

The upper end of the plate 26 is provided with a so-oalled keyhole, composed of a round hole portion 39 and an upwardly-projecting slot portion 46. The round portion 35 is of suflicient size to permit it to be passed over the head of the screw 22 (Fig, l) secured to the support 26, the slot 4o being of suitable width to slide down on the shank of the screw. This arrangement permits quick-detachable mounting of the tting 25 on the screw 22, as will be apparent from Figs. l and 3.

A laterally-projecting tab 4l is also provided in the upper portion of the plate 26 and has a hole 42 therein, the hole preferably being given the shape indicated in Fig. 4, corresponding with the outline of the tab. The tab 4l serves as an anchor for one end of the lift cord 24, and additionally it assists in retaining the iitting 26 in engagement with the shade l5, as will be subsequently explained. Prior to installation the portion of the plate 29 which is above the flanges 36, 36 is planar.

The cord lock fitting 21 is formed similarly to the cord guide tting 26 from a hat plate 44. The mid-portion and the upper end of the plate 44 are similar to the corresponding portions of the plate 29 of the cord guide fitting 25. These similar parts are indicated by similar reference characters marked prime and denoting similar parts having similar functions, the only diierence between these portions of the two plates being that the plate 44 is somewhat greater in width than the plate 29 in order to space the flanges 36', 36' a greater distance apart so as to provide for a iirmer attachment to the shade l5, as will be subsequently explained.

The lower portion of the plate 44 is folded horizontally upon itself in spaced relation to form a housing 45 having two parallel vertical walls. A double-groove pulley 46 is rotatably mounted on a rivet 41 passing perpendicularly through the parallel vertical walls of the housing 45.

From an examination of Figs. 8 and 11, it will be observed that the pulley 46 is of considerably less width than the distance between the parallel walls of the housing 45, and that these parallel walls are stepped in towards the upper portion of the pulley. The stepped-in portions of the housing walls maintain the pulley centered within the housing, and also maintain the lift cords 24, 24 in position on the pulley. Plate 44, above the housing 45 and immediately below the anges 36', 36', is given an inclination so as to maintain the rear side of the housing in the plane of that portion of the plate 44 which is above the anges 36', 36', as is shown in Fig. 8.

A looking dog 50 is positioned within the housing 45 and has extensions 5I, 5I projecting on either side of and spaced from the pulley 46. The locking dog 50 is oscillatably mounted on the rivet 4l, the rivet being passed through thesfreerendsrof the extensions s55-1:5! i 1; Down@ wardlygproiectingiteethizrfare;iormedvalon forwardedge 1015 kthe'. flocking: dog '-115.05120 insure. holdingcengagement' .of ther locking uiogvwtth the lift .-.cords 24, x24 .when stehe dog iis .-.in eoperated position. .The...loeking d0gn=50vextends for esubstanti-allyi the entire :width between zathexfparallel sides -of :the housing 245, tand ".this maintains the leokirladoeiinazentered positionain themousing. Since the pulley .lA is v.: lalso maintainedunza centered -posi-tiondn the housing '45., engagement of V-zextensions ;5.l,.5|iof the Alocking l:dog with the` sides `of .thegpulley is; prevented. "liieaunc-` tion .of this .feature :of xn/y'firmen-tion :.willitbe explained hereinafter.

The clockwise `oscillating mouementxof fthe locking dog 50, as viewed in Fig. 7, isilimited by Aa detent finithe -forinof.;aznger;54 which sstruCk out .fromthe metalfgof the :housing .and projects into the .path otmovement '.offthe idog, asisbest seen ,in..ligs. vzand ,10.v Thisznger arrests `.the locking .dog :in ithe.. position :shown in. Fig.y 7. The.steppedfinpupperitportion ofizthe housing :ser-ves to 11imit fthe .counterclockwise oscillation ..of the locking dog 5.0.,.;-althongh,'in operation, -Ythe .engagement :of vtha-locking dog with the lift cords 24. f2.4 limits .its :motion :.:in this ,direction before itrreaches the steppedein portion .of the ihousing.

The .wan .ofY tue-.housing `:45 femmes a Wall .against 'which the lift acords .2:24, :24 .pare

locked by the .dog :50. This .wall is `preferably given .a slightly outwardly' bowed zcontour ;to

crowd .the :two @cords 2.24, 24; together. fand toga-id in retaining them Linfaljignment @with :theepuliley 46.r The n.action tof atheslockingedog inxco.-

operation withgtheflocking surface 55.15- such that .when.thependantportions of: the A:liftzcords 24, .24 @are swung fto the :lett yin A;the operation of the '-shade i5 :fas :viewed in Fig :1,:..the mords .will engage :the yteeth 252 f of 4the alockingiidogiz. Then, upon the liftfcords24,t;24:.beingfpermitted to 'withdraw' through -the oord flock enough to lower the shade I5 veri7 slightly, the lift cords will oscillate the-lockingidogz interlocking Aposition .-in the usual mannen :the .locking -iiog forcing the 'lift @cords izagainstithe locking A'sur-.- face .55, .including inclined. :portion u tthere'ot and :.frictionally g :engaging :the"-t.-cords.;-i sonasfito maintain them 1.111 i position'zsagainst fthe Weight f to ypass into -the cord "lock Ahousing 45,1they are @apt .to becomeV jammed 'between *theL pulley 46 `and the locking surface :55 `of "the housing, -or-to -actuate the Vvlocking 'dog"50 into :locking position valthough there 'has "been Ano "..l'ateral movement ofmthe; ends of the' lift cordssuch .as is'normally required" to cause 'the .locking ...dog tofengage `the cords. TTC prevent.,this,.; a sepa.- rator 56 yis Vprovided adiacent v to .the lower zend of the' housing '.'45 4to Jcause the. lift..cords 2.24, l.24 to untwist as .theynenter 4the .cordAockz housing.

The v'separatorV 56 projects horizontally ninfa vdi.-

rection parallel withtheigrooues: :of the-soulier' 46. :as iis-we11=1suown1in the vart.

.Theseparatcr 5.6, show-n hereinisrstampedirom the/open ,bottom of thehousing 45.

The'stem of the Lfshaped Vseparator-56 goinprises Athe `operating-pcrtion i thereof. This opere ating portion is formed from a :projecting `iiat striprof metalintegral with `the base of the ,L whiehisgiven a generallyupright U -shapedgcIOss section. .Theoperating portion of the-separator 5.6 lies-adj acent to: .the ibottom' .0f the'vhousllg A5, projectingfora short distance-beyond the locking surface :55 '-,thereofy fas shown 1in Figs: 7 and 1.0. inasmuch assubstantialiy yal1-.of the 'fl-otienal engagement of 'the lift cords "-24, Z4, ywhen :ain twisted condition, occurs on the lower facegifthe separator 251i, the'zshane described .does not :result nzany trailing. Of the :cords 'andrproyidesgaepaf rator `that .may .begintegrally .andisimultineously formed bysuitable dies during thestampinggof the cord lock `tting:2'i; asay Whole.

:The cord lock. Aalso lhas an; instruck :bead or .cerf rugation Y. 5T formed adjacent :the llower wedge of thelhousing I45, :thisgheadfextending transversely across the lower end ofthe locking surface'; and thence .for agsubstantialdistance vinto'ea-ch of fthe parallel walls of the housing. V'-'Jlhisgbeadprovides smooth bearing'surfaee for the cords asfthey run .through the ,.cordtlock, preventing Lfraying. of the .cords onthe lower :edge of thehousing'ut. Alea-.the portions Aof :the beaidfvwhichfare in-the parallel side walls of .the housing, keep .thecords so :centered with; respectzto ,the locking dog 50 as to cbviate any tendency of a cord. to jamhetween a ,corner of '.the: locking .dog andfa side-'Wallgo'f the housing. :Bead-.S'Hrmay hea continuous beadihut to facilitate stamping `thereof ite may :be interruptedA Where it` goes.r around'zthe corners between surface 555 .fand vthe kside walls fofthe housing 2&5 .asis bestxseeninFig. 7.

vSor-ne diniculty has been yenccornered :in fthe operation of feorol .flocks has/.ing1.the.flocking dog andthe pulley; mounted forrotation on thesame in thatA the retatiouoffthe pulleyzdurne the lowering of the blind sometimescauses-soecalled false operation :of :the Cord 1ock, i. 1e., .carries the locking: dog .into engagement :with the lift :cords when the cords *haveA not been swungfsidewiserto veffect operation of the. lock. 'This type.A of false @Deletion is prevented in .the cord Vlool; shown herein, since. thegsidesof pulley :451 arezprevented from coming in Contact with' extensions 5 l ,f5 l of locking .dog-h Therefore; as ,theipuileyrrotates it `cannot, itholilgh frictions-l f Contact 1 with'. :dog extensions 5!,..5i',r.piek upfthe dog 'and swing 'it into. engagement withthe cords.

Gord locks having.' therlockingz dogandzthe pulley .mounted onfthesame axis: are x.also occasion ally subject to another type of false operation. If ttherivetsvhieh actssas an axle-becomes ,loose infthe. ,cordlo,ckhousing,A fout throughfrcughness .or :otherwisevhecomes Va little tightfwithrespect to theruliey and-locking dos.ithenftheootetins pulleymay .carry theyrivetaroundwjlth it, nd vthe rivetmay ,then oarrythe looking'dogf-around with it, nthereby causing Vfalse operation` of the .cord Jock. To .prevent `1this,.;a -sl-ightly ceneri 1spring -washerii is placed lunder theheadgof@ rivet lll .the Washer becomingstressed.ashthervet.ris

set. The washer then resiliently engages the housingr d and the rivet head, thereby effectively preventing fortuitous rotation ofthe rivet should it become rotationally loose in the housing.

Figs. 12 and 13 show alternative means for preventing rotation of the rivet 4l should it become loose in the housing 45. Fig. 12 shows a washer of thin spring sheet metal, the washer, when unstressed, conforming to the surface of a cylinder. This washer, when substituted for the conical spring washer 66, acts in similar fashion to washer 60. In Fig. 13 an angular projection 6l is shown struck up from a parallel wall of the housing 45 adjacent the hole provided for the rivet 4l. When the rivet fil is inserted in the housing d5, a corner of projection 6i engages and cuts into a portion of the periphery of the rivet head so as to prevent rotation of the rivet relative to the housing. Either of the alternative means herein described and shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used instead of the conical washer 66 shown in Fi 11.

glhe attachment of the cord guide fittingV 2e and the cord lock fitting 2'! to the shade l5 is quickly and easily accomplished. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the head bar le is mounted alongside the topmost slat I8 of the shade, and a second slat 23 is interposed between the topmost slat and the head bar. As above described, these slats, which are relatively flexible, are secured to the head bar i9 at intervals. rThe upper portion of the plate 29 of the cord guide fitting may be inserted between the head bar i9 and the slat 23, between adjacent rivets it, the slat 23 being deiiected slightly if necessary to permit passage of the plate. This plate-is inserted adjacent the left end of the head bar I9, as shown in Fig. 1, and is pushed upwardly until the anges 36, engage the lower edge of the head bar.

After the cord guide fitting 26 has been inserted as above described, the laterally-projecting tab 4I will be positioned immediately above the tcp edge of the head bar I9. This tab is then bent rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, in

which position it projects to the rear of the topm'ost slat I6 of the shade. The bent tab di serves to prevent withdrawalof the cord guide iitting 26, and, in conjunction with flanges 36, 35, it

prevents oscillation of the cord guide in a plane parallel to the plane of the shade.

Longitudinal movement of the cord guide ntting 26 along the head bar l 9 is prevented by the frictional engagement of the headbar and the slat 23 with the fitting, and also by the rivets iS which serve to limit such longitudinal movement. In addition, a driven fastening 59, such asa staple, 'is preferably driven into the head bar 'le with one leg thereof passing through the hole 3l' of the cord guide 26 so as to more denitely position the cord guide on the head bar. The staple 56 may be omitted if desired. The cord loclrfitL1 ting 2l is positioned on the head bar I9 adjacent the right-hand end of the shaft i5 in a similar manner.

The lift cords 24, 24 are installed by passing one end of a piece of cord upwardly through the cord lock housing halfway around the pulley 46, downwardly along the front of the shade, as viewed in Fig. 1, around the bottom of the shade, and up the back of the shade, that end of the cord being then secured to the tab 4l of the cord lock fitting 21. The other end of the piece of cord is passed upwardly through the cord lock housing on the opposite side of the separator 56, one-fourthway around the pulley 46, hori? zontally across the top of the shade I5, through the cord guide fitting 26 (making a quarter turn around pulley 3l), downwardly on the front of the shade I5, under theV shade, and upwardly along the back side of the shade, that end of the cord being then secured to the tab 4| of the cord guide tting 26. This reeving of the lift cords 24, 24 leaves a pendant loop of cord at the right end of the shade i5 which may be grasped by the operator for opening or closing the shade.

If desired, the cord guide tting 26 and the cord lock fitting 21 may be made of hands opposite to those shown, so as to place the pendant loop of the lift cords 24, 24 at the left hand rather than the right end of the shade.

I claim:

1. Vln a multiple slat shade, a plurality of thin, fiat, horizontally extending slats linked to form a vertical shade, a head bar secured alongside the topmost slat, lift cords for rolling the shade upwardly upon itself to open position, and ttings for supporting the shade and directing the lift cords, each of the fittingsl comprising a generally iiat plate inserted between the head bar and the topmost slat with the supporting por tion of the iitting projecting above the head bar and a side edgeportion of the plate below the head bar being folded upon itself in spaced relation, and a cord pulley rotatively mounted between the plate and the folded-over portion thereof to form a cord-directing means.

2. A cord guide fitting for a shade having a head bar and a slat mounted alongside the head 5, bar, said cord guide comprising: a metal plate having a side edge portion at its lower end folded over upon itself in spaced relation, and a cord pulley rotatively mounted between the plate and the folded-over portion to form a cord-directing means, said plate having an upwardly projecting, generally fiat portion provided with a hole therein for engaging a shade support, and being adapted to be inserted between the head bar and the strip.

3. In a multiple slat shade having a head bar, a slat mounted alongside the head bar, and lift cords for rolling the shade upwardly upon itself; a cord `guide for receiving one of the lift cords, said cord guide comprising: a metal plate having a cord-directing means at its lower end and an upwardly projecting nat portion having an aperture therein adapted to engage a shade support, said plate being adapted to be inserted between the head bar -and said slat and having two fixed projections immediately beneath the head bar spaced one on each side of the cord-directing means, and a tab on its upper portion immediately above the head bar between the two xed projections, the tab being initially inthe plane of the plate and readily bendable fromthe plane of the plate to retain the cord guide in inserted position.

4. In a multiple slat shade having a head bar, a slat mounted alongside the head bar, and lift cords for rolling the shade upwardly upon itself; a cord guide for receiving one of the lift cords, said cord guide comprising: a generally nat metal plate having cord-directing means at its lower end, a projecting horizontal ange immediately below the head bar, and a bendable tab immediately above the head bar, said plate being inserted between the head bar and the topmost slat of the shade and retained in inserted position by the bending of the tab out of the plane of thez plate.-

5. In a multiple slat shade having a head bar, a slat mounted alongside the head bar, and lift cords for rolling the shade upwardly upon itself; a cord guide for receiving one of the lift cords, said cord guide comprising: a generally at metal plate having a cord-directing means at its lower end and a bendable tab near its upper end and initially in the plane of the plate, said plate being adapted to be inserted between the head bar and the juxtaposed slat, said tab being bendable out of the plane of the plate to retain the plate in inserted position, and said tab being provided with an aperture to receive an end of the lift HARRY NELSON.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

